Owner of Pooled Acreage Says Property Bypassed, Lease Terminated

WHEELING, W.Va. — The owners of a 341-acre site in West Virginia are suing to terminate a drilling lease purportedly held by Chesapeake Appalachia LLC and two other parties, saying that a “pooling” agreement that would extend the lease beyond its original term is invalid because the pooled well is not extracting gas from plaintiffs’ property. Sonda, et al. v. Chesapeake Appalachia LLC, et al., No. 5:12-cv-00103 (N.D. W.Va.).

Defendants removed the action to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia July 6 and have moved to compel arbitration.

Scott C. Sonda, Mark A. Sonda and …